OSHA Postpones Beryllium Rule

Acting in response to a Presidential order, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has postponed its final rule for work-related exposure of beryllium.

An executive order was issued on January 20, requiring federal agencies to postpone all new regulations published in the Federal Register, assuming that had not yet taken effect for two months. The beryllium rule was initially scheduled to take effect on March 10 and was published in the Federal Register on January 9, making it fall under the category of this Presidential order.

OSHA says that some 62,000 workers in the United States are exposed to potentially harmful levels of the toxic mineral beryllium, which has been linked to serious lung disease. The new rule would strengthen regulations surrounding exposure to beryllium in an effort to lower these numbers and protect workers from illness.

When speaking about the rule's delay, OSHA explained by saying that it would provide officials with additional time to review the regulations and make any changes as needed. OSHA also says that a period of public commenting -- something that's often used when new rules are published -- wouldn't be practical in this situation.

" The temporary delay in effective date until March 21, 2017, will give Agency officials the opportunity for review and consideration of new regulations, as required by the memorandum ,” stated OSHA in the Federal Registry entry. “ Given the imminence of this effective date, seeking prior public comment on this temporary delay would have been impractical, as well as contrary to the public interest in the orderly promulgation and implementation of regulations .”

You can access the notice for the rule's delay in the Federal Register here.

According to Wikipedia, the average person has approximately 35 micrograms of beryllium in his or her body. This isn't enough to cause harm, however. Beryllium is similar to magnesium, allowing it to displace from enzymes. Exposure to high levels of beryllium can therefore cause serious illness, particularly in regards to lung health.

The biggest threat associated with beryllium is a chronic lung disease known as Chronic Beryllium Disease (CBD). It's often mistaken for sarcoidosis simply because it shares many symptoms. Workers who are exposed to beryllium often develop weakness, fatigue, trouble breathing, weight loss, heart disease and other characteristic symptoms.